MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR ACTUATING A CHARGING FLAP

• US 20170292305A1
• Filed: 04/06/2017
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Geissenhoener, Kai, Ranft, Detlev
• Granted Patent: US 10,352,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/053 with hinged connection to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0561 Locking means for the inlet cover
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/24 Superstructure sub-units with access or drainage openings having movable or removable closures; Sealing means thereforinlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/10 for swinging wings , e.g. counterbalance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/47 Springs; Spring tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/686 Rods, links
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/53 characterised by the type of wing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 21/44 for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An electric vehicle (1) has a charging flap (10) articulated on a support structure by way of a four-bar linkage arrangement (14) so that the charging flap (10) can be moved between a closed position (FIG. 3A) and an open position (FIG. 3F). To simplify the actuation of the charging flap, the mechanism for actuating the charging flap (10) has a push-push element (20) combined with a spring device (15) that is assigned to the four-bar linkage arrangement (14).

Claims

1. A mechanism for actuating a charging flap of an electric or hybrid vehicle, the charging flap being articulated on a support structure by a four-bar linkage arrangement so that the charging flap can be moved between a closed position and an open position, the mechanism for actuating the charging flap comprising a push-push element combined with a spring device that is assigned to the four-bar linkage arrangement.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the charging flap is prestressed into its closed position and its open position by the spring device.

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the spring device has a spring dead center that corresponds to a dead center position of the charging flap where the charging flap is arranged between the closed position and the open position.

4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the charging flap (10) can be pivoted up out of the closed position into the open position.

5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein, in its open position, the charging flap is arranged above a charging opening.

6. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the four-bar linkage arrangement comprises two link pairs articulated respectively on two sides of the charging flap.

7. A method for actuating a charging flap of an electric vehicle having the mechanism of claim 1, the method comprising:

exerting pressure on the push-push element during opening for opening the charging flap slightly by way of the push-push element, and then manually opening the charging flap farther.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising using the spring device to open the charging flap to the open position after a spring dead center is passed.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising closing the charging flap by moving the charging flap manually until the spring dead center is overcome and then using the spring device to move the charging flap to a closed position.

10. An electric vehicle having a charging flap and the mechanism of claim 1.